I never wish—as I did then!—

The means from my own purse supplying,

To turn them all to gentlemen—

I fear my heart is ossifying!

We’ve had some serious things of late,

Our sympathies to beg or borrow,

New melo-drames, of tragic fate,

And acts and songs, and tales of sorrow;

Miss Zouch’s case, our eyes to melt,

And sundry actors sad good-bye-ing.